Lock construction



Dec. 12, 1939. K. H. POND LOCK CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 21, 1939 2Sheets-Sheet 1 IINVENTOR KEN/var H Po N0 4.. ATTOR EYS Patented Dec. 12,1939- UNITED. STA S LOCK CONSTRUCTION Kenneth H. Pond, Lon gmeadowMass., assignor to Bemis and Call Company, Springfield, Mass., acorporation of Massachusetts. I

Application February 21, 1939, Serial No. 257,596

14 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in permutation locks and dealsparticularly with a locking mechanism which has incorporatedin itcertainnovel features which render the locking operation simpler andwhich,in addition, serve to element is automatically freed so that itcan move to its fully unlocked position. In, addition to freeing thesecuring element, this last setting of the combination prepares the lockto again be rendered effective by simply moving the securing element toits original locked position without further adjustment ofthepermutation wheels.

As can be'appreciated from the above, the user cannot'with such ageneral arrangement of. the invention inadvertently leave the lockunlocked and with the permutation wheels set at the first of thecombinations included in the total opening operation. In addition tothis advantage, the relocking operation compares in simplicity with thatof an ordinary key lock.

In.the drawings the parts have been shown constructed to operate as asimple padlock but this embodiment is used by way of illustration Ionly, the arrangement being equally applicable to by those familiar withthe art; and I, therefore,

do not intend to necessarily limit myself to the particular form shown.

A full disclosure of suitable means which I prefer to use in carryingout the main purpose of my invention; as well as the other purposes, can

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the lock' of vFig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional end view taken on line 3--3ofFig.1; I I

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the positionassumed bythe elements after the other forms of looks as will be readilyunderstood first step in the unlocking-operation. has been performed;

Fig. 5 is a sectional View on line 5-5 of Fig. 3; Figs. 6 to 10 arefragmentary views showing important locking elements and their variouspo- "5' sitions during a complete unlocking cycle;

' Fig." 11 is a view of the parts in Fig. 10 but showing analternateposition of the elements from which the lock can be locked;

Fig. 12 is a detail view taken on line I2-l2 of 10 Fig. 3, showing afeature of the permutation wheelconstruction; and

Fig. 13 is a View taken on line I3l 3 of Fig. 4 and showing how thedetent spring is, mounted.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 5, the locking mechanism 16 with the exceptionof the securing member or shackle'l is contained as a unit within thelock base 2. Base 2 has openings at'the top to accommodate the long andshort legs 3 and 4 of the I shackle i and a large opening at the bottom'20 through which the locking mechanism is inserted during assembly. Thelocking mechanism is supported ion the wings 5 of a Ll-shaped frame 6which has alip 1 secured to the underside of the upper surface of thebase 2 as by screw 8; A 25 baseor cover plate 9 is crimped into notchesformed in the bottom of the vertical edges of wings 5, see Figs. 3 and4, and in the assembled position of the lock forms a closure for thebottom ofthe base 2 and also-serves to stiffen the 0 frame 6. I v Thelong leg 3 of shackle I terminates at'its lower end in a reducedcylindrical portion having a semi-circular foot I0 which underlies aninwardly directed shoulder l I formed in the base 2. 35

When the lock has been'unlock'ed by'suitable manipulation of thepermutation mechanism, this foot I0 serves to limit the upward'motion ofshackle Iztowards the unlocked position by con tacting thebottom ofshoulder ll. Above shoul- 4 der II, long leg 3 has an integralrib' l2forming an abutment for the upper end of the shackle springv l3 which atits opposite end presses against shoulder ll. -As-is plain from the drawings,;shackle'spring l3 always tends to force the 45 shackle upwards tothe open position,- being limited in its final outward position byfoot;l0 previously described. Immediately above rib l2,- the-long leg 3 has achamfered portion I5 which,

as will be described, serves as a camming surface 56 duringtheresecuring of shackle I in its locked position. a v

A short distance above the chamfered portion I5 thereis a milled slot Itent in the surfaceofleg 3, this slot being pposite a similar slot I cutin" the short leg 4, see Fig. 5. As is indicated in Figs. 1, 3 and 5,the shackle in the locked position is secured against the upwardpressure of shackle spring I3 by interengagement of slots I6 and H withtoes or dogs I8 formed integrally with the upper end of a primary boltI9.

This bolt I9 has a pair of ears 2| which, when the lock is locked, liebehind the lips 22 of slots 23 cut in look frame wing 5, see Fig. 3. Inthis position, bolt I9 is constantly urged upward to contact the top ofslots 23 by pressure of the shackle spring [3 transmitted through theshackle and slots I5 and I1 to the dogs I8 previously described. I

At the lower end bolt I9 is provided with a pair of control fingers 25which extend between the permutation wheels 26 and ride on theperipheries of inner wheels 21 of the permutation mechanism, see Fig. 1.As is well known in the art, and will be explained more in detail atanother point, the inner wheels 21 are adjusted by means of thepermutation wheels to position the bolt for freeing the shackle I.

Between the control fingers 25, the bolt has a depending tongue 29provided with a hole 35 which is directly in line with and below a slot3! cut in the bolt. A bolt spring 32 is threaded over one of two springrods 33 and 34 which span the U frame and have their ends penetratingholes in the frame wings 5. One end of the bolt spring 32 rests ontheback inner surface of the base 2 and the opposite end passes throughslot 3| and has its terminal slipped through hole 30, see Fig. 4. Thisspring 32 is wound so that it constantly forces the bolt downwardly andinwardly. Thus the control fingers 25 are constantly being urged againstinner wheels 21 and in the position of Fig. 4 where the first of theunlocking steps has been performed, the ears 2| are forced downward tocontact the lower surface of the slots 23. This particular boltstructure is similar in many respects to that shown in the patent toDenerich 1,964,936, dated July 3, 1934, and therefore will not bedescribed further.

Referring now to Figs. 2 to 5, a secondary bolt 35 is mounted ontrunnions 36, through which rod 34 passes. This secondary bolt 35 hasatits upper end a laterally extending toe 31 which is adapted, in thelocked position of Fig. 2, to lie between the upper and lower edges of anotch 38 cut in the long leg 3 of the shackle on the opposite side fromthe cut I6 previously described, see also Fig. 5. Slot 38 is dimensionedso that when the first of the unlocking operations has been performedand the parts are positionedas in Fig. 4, the toe 3? contacts the bottomof notch-38, and holds the shackle from continuing its upward motion.

At its lower end bolt 35 has control fingers 48 which, as with thecontrol fingers 25 of primary bolt I9, lie between the permutationwheels2B and contact the peripheries of the inner wheels 21. However, controlfingers 45 are wider than control fingers 25 and contact the peripheriesof the inner wheels 2'! at a point about opposite to the contact pointof control fingers 25, see Fig. 4.

Also, the control fingers 40 are in the shape of a dog in cross section,while fingers 25 are generally fiat. These differences, while evidentfrom the drawings, are pointed out in detail so that the operation ofthe mechanism can be better understood when its detailed cycle isdescribed.

As with bolt I9, secondary bolt 35 has a bolt spring 43 which in thiscase is threaded over rod 34 and has one end resting againstthe innerwall of the back of the base 2 with its opposite end lying in a V notchcut in the lower edge of a depending tongue 44 extending downwardlybetween the control fingers lfl, see Fig. 2. In this case, too, the boltspring is Wound to force the control fingers 53 against the inner wheels21.

Referring now to Figs. 2 to 4, the permutation mechanism is preferablyof the fixed combination type,that is, the combinations to which thepermutation wheels must be set cannot be varied by the user. Thus eachpermutation wheel 25 is in the form of a collar and is suitably securedto the periphery of its inner wheel 27 by, for instance, a force fit. Ascan be seen from Fig. 2 in particular, the inner wheels 2? themselvesare in the form of bushings and rotate freely on shaft 55, this lastmember being journaled in the frame wings 5. The permutation wheels 26are considerably narrower than the inner wheels 21 and therefore, withthe mechanism assembled as indicated, there is ample space toaccommodate the control fingers 25 and 36 of the primary and secondarybolts, respectively. The lateral positions of the inner whels 2'5 onshaft 55 are maintained by that portion of the permutation wheels whichextends through slots cut in the cover plate 9, see Fig, 2.

The permutation wheels, see Fig. 4, have a series of notches 55 cut intheir periphery corresponding in number to the indicia provided to setthe lock to various combinations. A detent spring 55 having a separatetongue 5'! for each permutation wheel is mounted on the U frame 6. Asshown in Fig. 13, the spring 55 lies against the back of the frame withthe tongues 5'1 extending through a slot 58 and with its opposite endsecured by integral tabs 59 which pass through openings Gil in the frame5. The ends of the tongues 57 engage the notches 55 and serve to alinethe indicia at any setting of the permutation wheels, as is well known.

Referring now to Figs. 3, 4, 8 and 12, each inner wheel has a fiat 35and a notch 66 cut in its periphery. When the permutation wheels 25 havebeen set'to what I will term the primary combination, the flats 65 allbe parallel to the control fingers 25 of the primary bolt I9 and thatbolt may be moved to disengage itself from the shackle I by 'havingthebolt assume the position of Fig. 4 where the toes l8 are free of theslots I I3 and I? in the short and long legs of the shackle. Similarly,if the notch 56 is positioned as in Fig. 8, or to what I will call thesecondary combination of the permutation wheels, the control fingers illof the secondary bolt 35 will lie in these notches fifi and the toe 37will be free of the notch .38 in the long leg 3 of the shackle. However,in this position, the control fingers 25 of the primary bolt i 9 will beno longer contacting the flats 55 but will be riding on the peripheriesof the inner wheels 2'? with one toe l3 riding against the long leg 3 ofthe shackle just below the chamferedportion I5, see Fig. 8. Thisarrangement is what provides for the two-step opening which has alreadybeen referred to and which will be described in more detail shortly.

As is indicated in Fig. 12, the flat 55. on each inner wheel 21 is muchnarower than notch 53, the dimensions being such that the combination oftwo flats 55 or two abutting inner wheels 2'! is equal to the width ofthe narrow control fingers 25 of the primary bolt I9. Therefore,rememberingthat control fingers Ml of secondary bolt 35 are wider thanfingers 25, it is plain that these fingers 40 cannot be affected by theflats 65 because they span them laterally. On the :other hand; while thefingers 25 ofthe primary bolt .are narrow, they are flat and willtherefore span the notches 66 longitudinally. This arrangement not only,prevents any accidental manipulationof either boltat an'improper pointon the inner wheel 21, but it also prevents an unauthorized user fromfeeling the combination by carefullyturning the permutation wheels andnoting when the sense of touch tells that a fiat .65 or notch 86has-passed either set of contr fingers 25 and 4|].

As was pointed out earlier, this particular permutation mechanism is inits preferred form of the fixed combination type. This preference isgoverned primarily by considerations of economy and ease of assembly.The operating principles.

nism capable of ,having the opening combination changed as with the,permutation mechanism shown in the, Denerich patent referred to. Itherefore do not desire tolimit my invention to a lock constructionhaving the fixed type of combination. r

,With the detailed description of the Various elements in mind,- thecomplete operating cycle asshown by Figs. 3 and 6 to 10 can now easilybe understood. 1 Considering first Fig. 3 which is a View of the lockedposition, it will be recalled that the slots [5 and l! on the legs 3 and4 of the shackle are engaged by the toes l8 on .the primary bolt is andthe ears 2| of that bolt lie behind the lips 22 of the slots 23 cut inthe frame wings 5 with the ears pulled up against the top of slots 23.Also the toe 31 of the secondary bolt liesin the notch 38 cut in thelong leg 3 of the shackle. The control fingers 25 and of the primary andsecondary bolts are riding on the peripheries of the inner wheels .27. 1

To unlock the mechanism, the user manipulates the permutation wheelsuntil they are set at the primary combination, as indicated in Fig. 6.From that view it will be seen that neither of the bolts' 19 and 35change position from that shown in Fig.3, the primary bolt being heldupward in position by the pressure of shackle spring shackle is releasedit will rise upward until toe 31 on the secondary bolt 35 contacts-thebottom of slot- 38. The final position is a semi-opened position andrepresented by Fig. 7. It is to'be noted that while the shackle hasmovedupward,

the motion has not been sufficient to allow the short leg '1 of theshackle to clear the top of base ,2, see Fig. 1 where the motion of theshackle between the locked and semi-opened position is I shown by thedistance between the lines X and Y.

wheels 2i, as in Fig. 8, the control fingers 40 being forced into thenotches 66 by the secondary bolt spring previously described. When thislast I occurs, toe3'lon the secondary bolt will clear slot @fiandtheshackle will risetoits ,;ful1y opened "position (see Fig.8), in whichposition the short leg 4 will clear the top of the base.

As was pointed out earlier, this last setting of the permutation wheelswill make the control fingers 25 on the primary bolt ride on theperipheries of the inner wheels, see Fig. 8. Comparing Figs. '7 and 8,the control fingers 25 are first forced outward as the permutationwheels are moved; then, since the primary bolt spring is, urging thebolt towards the inner wheels, the bolt l9 will pivot about the ears 2|until the toes l8 contact the shackle legs 3' and 4. Continued rotationof the permutation wheels until the control fingers 25 ride on theperipheries of the inner wheels will then force the ears 2| out-,

ward alongthe slanting lower edge of the slots 23 but against thetension of the primary bolt spring. Fig. 9 shows the position of theprimary bolt at the instant that the secondary bolt is released. Thisaction of the primary bolt will'not, however, interfere with the shacklewhen it is released by the secondary bolt, for the toes 58 on theprimary bolt engage the shackle l below the notches l6'and I1 and rideon the outer surface of the shackle from the position of Fig. 7 to thatof Fig. 8. On the other hand, the lock can now be locked by simplydepressing the shackle, for with the primary bolt positioned as in Fig.8, if the shackle is depressed the toes l8 follow up the chamfer l5along the periphery of the shackle past the position of Fig. 9untiltheysnap into the slots l6 and Il. The ears 2! will then be restingin the corner formed by the lower and back edges of the notches-23 withthe bolt vertical. Finally, when the shackle is released and the shacklespring forces it upward, the ears 2! are pulled up position of the partswhen the toes !8 have snapped into slots l6 and I1 and then been pulledupwardly by the action of spring [3.

It will be noted that in this last position, the toe 31 on the secondarybolt is out of the slot 38 and not in position to stop the verticalmotion of the shackle. However, to unlock the look again, the primarysetting of the permutation wheels must be set up to release the primarybolt. As is clear from the drawings, any manipulation of the the primarycombination will immediately render the secondary bolt ready tofunction.

By comparing Figs. 8 and 11, another feature will be noted for, asillustrated by the latter figure, if by mistake or intentionally; whenthe lock is unlocked the permutation wheels are moved so that they nolonger are on the secondary combination, the locking of the shackle willnotbe interfered with. Thus in Fig. 8 when the permutation wheels aremoved, the control fingers 40 ride up into the peripheries of the innerwheels as in Fig. 11, and the toe 37 immediately rests against the rib12. -When the shackle is then depressed, the chamfer l5 forcibly camsthe toe 31- of the secondary bolt outwardly as shown- As the shackleispressed further downward the toe permutation wheels with a view ofsetting up 3'! will finally snap into the slot 38, the'toes l8 on theprimary bolt in the meantime sliding along the side ofthe legs 3 and 4.Of, course, after the toe 31 is in the slot 38 the shackle is pressedinwardly until the toes l8 engage the slots I6 and ll, as previouslydescribed for the locking operation.

. .Inaddition, this pointshouldbe noted regard-.

ing the above locking operation. If instead of positioning the innerwheels as in Fig. 11, the permutation wheels are turned so that theprimary combination is accidentally set up and the primary bolt releasedto assume the position shown in Fig. 7 where it does not rest on theshackle at all, as soon as the toe 3'1 of the secondary bolt snaps intothe slot 38 the shackle cannot be withdrawn beyond its half -openedposition so that it is effectively locked but not in its normal positionOn the other hand, the shackle will rise to this half-opened positionwhen the downward pressure is released and this will warn the user thatthe primary bolt is not locked.

With the details of the lock construction and its operating cyclecomplete, certain of the features involved will now be emphasized. Inthe first place, the toe 3'! on the secondary bolt, when the mechanismis locked as in Fig. 3, lies free between the upper and lower surfacesof the notch 38. The shackle is secured by the toes IS on the primarybolt engaging with the slots 16 and I7. Now, therefore, if thepermutation wheels are set to the secondary combination and thesecondary bolt moves free of the shackle, and the shackle is thendepressed, as is necessary to start the opening operation, the shackleis in no way released but still remains secured by the primary bolt;this is plain from Fig.10. The only time that the secondary bolt canoperate to release the shackle is when the primary bolt has been firstreleased by setting up the primary combination on the permutation wheelsas described.

However, as soon as the secondary combination is set on the permutationwheels, the primary combination is efiectively concealed. Thus, thoughthe user leaves the lock with the shackle unsecured, and the secondarycombination set, which is probably the normal way in which the lock willbe used, only one of the two combinations can be observed.

On the other hand, while the secondary combination can properly becalled an opening combination, this secondary setting does not have tobe destroyed to again lock the lock. Yet, if the secondary combinationis disturbed, it does not interfere with the locking of the shackle.Therefore, the secondary bolt functions to constrain a definite cycle ofoperations during the unlocking of the look but does not require thesame cycle in opposite succession during locking of the shackle.

In addition, as was pointed out above, this secondary bolt functions asa safety factor to lock the shackle in semi-opened position in case theprimary bolt is unlocked and-not ready to secure the shackle when thelock is being locked.

Numerous other desirable features have been included in my lockconstruction and these, together with the particular ones pointed out,have enabled me to combine intricate mechanism into a small ru'litaryconstruction which, though inexpensive to make, does not sacrificepositiveness of operation to economy.

However, a main function of the secondary locking bolt is to permitthese operations: (1) unlocking completely; (2) relocking without thenecessity of touching the permutation wheels. Ihus I have furnished alock structure which can be locked with all the simplicity of anordinary spring lock, Prior to my invention, so far as I know, thissimple spring lock result was not possible in permutation locks. By thisI mean that in prior permutation looks it was necessary to disturb thepermutation wheels as part of the necessary locking operations. This hasbeen avoided to the great advantage of permutation locks.

What I claim is:

1. In a permutation look, a securing element having an effectiveposition, an inefiective position and an intermediate position,permutation members each provided with a lock controlling element andhaving a primary and secondary combination, primary and secondarylocking elements controlled by said lock controlling elements andrespectively adapted to hold said securing member in said effectiveposition until said primary combination is set and in said intermediateposition until said secondary combination is set for the purposedescribed.

2. The structure of claim 1 with the primary and secondary lockingelements controlled by separate means on said lock controlling elements.

3. In a permutation look, a securing element having an efiectiveposition, an ineffective position and an intermediate position,permutation members each provided with a lock controlling element andhaving a primary and secondary combination, primary and secondarylocking elements controlled by said lock controlling elements andrespectively adapted to hold said securing element in said effectiveposition until said primary combination is set and in said intermediateposition until said secondary combination is set, said primary lockingelement being, as soon as said secondary combination is set, ready tosecure said securing element when it is again moved to its effectiveposition.

4. In a permutation lock, 9. securing element having an efiectiveposition, an ineffective position and an intermediate position,permutation members each provided with a lock controlling element andhaving a primary and secondary combination, primary and secondarylocking elements controlled by said lock controlling elements andrespectively adapted to hold said securing element in said effectiveposition until said primary combination is set and in said intermediateposition until said secondary combination is set, said secondary lockingelement being always in position to hold said securing element in theintermediate position whenever said primary combination is set if thesecuring element is in its effective position.

In a permutation lock, a securing element having an effective position,an inefiective position and an intermediate position, permutationmembers each provided with a lock controlling element and having aprimary and secondary combination, primary and secondary lockingelements controlled by said lock controlling elements and respectivelyadapted to hold said securing element in said effective position untilsaid primary combination is set and in said intermediate position untilsaid secondary combination is set, the primary and secondary lockingelements being affected by separate means on said lock controllingelements and neither by the others means.

6. In a permutation look, a securing element having an effectiveposition, an ineffective position, and an intermediate position,permutation members each provided with a lock controlling element andhaving a primary and secondary combination, primary and secondarylocking elements controlled by said lock controlling elements andrespectively adapted to hold said securing element in said efiectiveposition until said primary combination is set and in said intermediateposition until said secondary combination be moved, slightly beyond saidelfective position and a position intermediate said effectivev andineffective positions, permutation members each having alock controllingelement and a primary and secondary combination, and primary andsecondary locking elements controlled by said lock controlling elements,said primary locking element being adapted, when said primarycombination is disturbed, to hold the securing element in its efiectiveposition, and when the primary combination is set and the securingelement afterwards moved towards its third position, to release saidsecuring element and allow it to pass towards its intermediate position,said secondary locking element being adapted when thesecondarycombination is disturbed to hold said securing element in saidintermediate position, and when said secondary combination" is set toallow the securing element to pass to its ineffective position, all forthe purpose described.

8. In a padlock construction, a hasp having short and long legs, similarnarrow slots one cut in each of said legs transverse to their axes, anda wider slot cut in the long leg adjacent its narrow slot and with itslower edge located lower down the leg than its adjacent narrow slot, ahasp spring mounted on said hasp and, adapted to force the hasp upwards,permutation members each provided with a lock controlling element andhaving a primary and secondary combination, primary and secondarylocking bolts controlled by said'lock controlling elements, said primarybolt having toes at one end adapted, when the hasp is in one position,to engage said similar narrow slots and hold the hasp secured until saidprimary combination is set, said secondary bolt having a toe at one endadapted to engage said lower edge of said wider slot as soon, as theprimary combination is set and the hasp has been'forced slightly upwardfrom its first position by said hasp spring, and to hold said hasp fromfurther unlocking movement in its said raised position until saidsecondary combination is set, all for the purpose described. I

9. The structure of claim 8 with the primary and secondary boltscontrolled by separate mean on the lock controlling elements.

locked position.

10. In a padlock construction, a hasp having an effective position, anineifective position, and an intermediate position, permutation memberseach having a lock controlling element consisting of a wheel with a flatand a notch cut in its periphery, primary and secondary locking boltshaving at least one too at one end and at the other end, control fingersadapted toiengage said flats and notches respectively to render thebolts ineffective, and slots cut in said hasp and adapted to be engagedby the toes on the respective bolts to holdthe'hasp when the latter isin effective-J and intermediate positions respectively, and to bedisengaged from the toes when the permutation members are adjusted untilthe flats and.

notches respectively engage the primary and secondary bolts for thepurpose described. I

11. The structure of claim 10 with the control fingers on the respectivebolts and the flats and 1 notches on the lock controlling elements,arranged so that the control fingers on each bolt are aifected only bythe flats or by the notches and combination is set, said bolt andpermutation mechanism being so constructed ,that when the securingmember is unlocked by setting the opening combination in the permutationmechanism,

said member may be relocked from said unlocked position by merely movingthe securing element .to its locked position.

13. In a permutation lock having a securing member, primary andsecondary bolts for holding the securing member, and permutationmechanism controlling said bolts and having a primary and secondarycombination to which said mechanism must respectively and successivelybe set to free said bolts from said securing members, said permutationmechanism and bolts being so constructed that the securing member mayberelocked from its unlocked position without moving the permutationmechanism from its secondary combination. v I

14. In a permutation lock having a securing member, automatic lockingmeans and permutation means to render said locking means effective andinefiective, said permutation means when manipulated to render saidlocking means ineffective being thereby put in position to render thesame effective upon the mere movement of said securing means to itslocked position from its un- KENNETH H. POND.

